Be creativeWhen news directors see your resume reel, they'll be looking for creative stand-ups. They want to know if you can walk and talk at the same time, if you can use props effectively, if you're actually on locationpointing out the events behind you, etc. In live shots, you can't always be as creative, but news packages allow more flexibility where you can even use multiple shots in the stand-up. What news directors don't want to see in a package is a stand-up where you are just standing there in front of a building. Before you do a stand-up, think it through and come up with a way to make it interesting visually as well as with the content.

Stand-ups Advance the StoryThe stand-up is integral to the story, not an afterthought. The reporter addresses the camera and advances the story with a brief bit of new information. Sometimes, the stand-up is used as a way to brand the story with the reporter's and the station's names. Make the Background InterestingFor most stories, it's highly advisable that you shoot the stand-up in the same location as the news event. But do so when the event is happening, not when the event is over. Shoot the stand-up in front of activity that is relevant to the story. If you do a sports story about the women's volleyball team, show the game or practice in the background of your shot. Avoid backgrounds where nothing is happening, such as an empty court. For these sports stories, students typically do their stand-ups near the CU buffalo statue either outside Folsom Stadium or outside the Coors Events Center. But even the buffalo statue is dull compared to the action of the event itself. Exploit action as much as possible in all your shots, and especially in the stand-up. Another advantage of showing the event happening behind you - it's evidence that you are actually there. Shooting the stand-up the next day when the event is over shows the audience that you're just being lazy. Therefore, you need to know the day of the event what to say and how that will fit into your story. You may be required to think quickly on your feet, but with practice, you'll get better and better at doing stand-ups more spontaneously.

In SOJO In-Depth and Quick Turnaround PackagesUse the stand-up as a 'bridge' that transitions the first part of your story to the next. Decide on a focus to your story and then make sure you map it out before the shoot. Try to anticipate what will happen and what shots you will find when you get to the location. That is, determine what your story will be about prior to the interviews and the production shoot. Above all, use information that is crucial to the story. Avoid using stand-ups to open or close the story - unless you're doing a Same-Day story.In Same-Day StoriesIn these stories, stand-ups areshot in the same location and used at the open and close with a pre-edited package in the middle. These stand-ups also mimic a live-shot, where they are called 'Look Lives.' The story format is called a 'donut' where the reporter tosses to their own package from the intro stand-up (often live in the field) and then tags the story in the closing stand-up. Most important, because you're mimicking a live-shot, these stand-ups are always shot in the same location.

Ad-libbingGood reporters make stand-ups look ad-libbed, although they seldom are. The reporter leans what to say based on their notes. They'll write what to say and then memorise it. But other times, reporters will find a way of reading from their notes without making it look obvious on camera. The recommended option is to simply memorise it. For packages, you also have the option to do more than one take, butit's good practice to imagine that you're doing the stand-up as a live shot, with only one chance to get it right.

Here are a couple creative examples of stand-upsCheck out some stand-ups from Reporter Chris Conte, KTTW-TV